Both Michael Howard and Tony Blair have pledged greater support for families through expanded childcare provision.

With Labour making assistance for "hard working families" one of its key election platforms, the Tory chief on Thursday sought to reclaim ground traditionally held by his party.

His keynote address outlined the Conservative approach to childcare, with Howard pledging to reform tax credits to make it easier for grandparents to qualify as childminders.

Drawing on his personal experience as a father, Howard said that arriving home late from work at the start of his legal career "made me feel like a bad parent".

"As I have said before, politicians don't have all the answers and they shouldn't pretend that they do," he added.

"In any case, most people aren't asking for miracles. They just want a government that makes their lives that little bit easier, that little bit better – month by month, year by year."

'Latch-key kids'

But Labour also made a play for the parents' vote.

In a speech to the Daycare Trust charity the prime minister announced that all parents of children of primary school age will have access to childcare at a rate of £2.50 to £3.00 per hour by the end of the next parliament.

Blair said: "I want to offer mums and dads more choice and flexibility with childcare to help them with their busy lives - parents at work and parents at home - and give children the best possible start in life.

"I can announce today that by the end of the next parliament every parent with children in primary school will be offered the guarantee of affordable school based childcare from eight to six, from breakfast clubs in the morning to after school clubs in the evening - and not just during term time but all the year round.

"In reality we expect at least half of all parents to enjoy this service well before then.

"I want an end to latch-key kids as we move from the traditional welfare state to an opportunity society that helps families with the problems they face."

Six principles

In his own address Howard set out the "six key principles" which Conservatives will apply to childcare.

These include allowing families - "not government" - to decide how to run their lives, and offering support for the choices that individual families make.

Howard also backed "flexible childcare arrangements" and offered to assist the traditional support given to parents by the children's grandparents.

And he warned that over-regulation "makes it hard to set up childcare facilities and hard to keep them going".

"Bringing up children isn't easy. It never has been," the Conservative leader said.

"Balancing a career with your commitments as a parent has always been a juggling act."

Proposals outlined by the party pledged to help struggling parents, with an offer to consult on making part of the cost of childcare tax deductible.